Ideas for inclusive conservation podcasts - Pattie Gonia
- Thread starter Mscarl (she/they)
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Carnage2011
Well-known member
The difference for me is that Mr. Gonia closed his eyes and decided to dress like a woman. I closed my eyes and decided that would be a poor decision. I'm personally not a fan of providing him with a platform to draw attention to something I consider a mental illness. I'm not saying that people who are Lesbian or Gay have a mental illness. I believe some of them are born that way. I am saying that Trans people and drag queen's have a mental illness, if you can't look down and identify what you are, you are lost. I don't really care if they "feel like a woman/man." That may offend people on here, but the reality is he chose to draw attention to himself. If that's your choice then it's hard for me to feel the need to give him a voice.
Throughout history, the acceptance of queer lifestyles was not only de riguer, it was a major part of many cultures. It's really around the Puritans when shame was associated with this stuff. Even then, men played women's roles in theaters from England to Japan, with both countries lionizing performers much like we do with singers & actors today. Drag is theater, it's entertainment. It's performance more than sexual identity. It's fun and it's garish and it's most definitely adults only (IMO) but it's an artform as old as any performing arts. To say it's a mental issue would lead me to believe that you've never been front and center when Rhonda Santis puts her big white boots up and sings "these boots were made for walking."
Carnage2011
Well-known member
Great. Let's keep it right there...in the theater. Last week when I was buying some bolts at Fastenal, there was a guy dressed as a woman. Nothing about that is fun or garish. He's either confused, mentally ill, or wants attention.
You're just mad you were checking him out before he turned around.
Look, I’m not tryna have a back and fourth on this but I’m just gonna say even if you think it’s all a mental illness, I don’t think having a mental illness shouldn’t lessen anyone’s standing as a human being.
idelkslayer
Well-known member
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You have engaged the crowd here very respectfully and I appreciate that. I will point out that the phrases I pulled above immediately shut me down from any desire to pursue real dialogue. Phrases like this reduce people down to political and sexual identities instead of valuing them as individual human beings with thoughts and opinions based in the field of discussion. And it puts me on notice that I am going to be judged for my appearance and not for my experience or knowledge. If Pattie Gonia has something of value to say regarding conservation I fail to see how being queer has any bearing on the discussion. Or conversely, how being "straight white men" affects ones value in the same discussion.
I have no problem with people of any background being interested in and supporting conservation as individuals. I see no value in trying to engage groups of people based on arbitrary life choices, or how having more of person type x or y adds any greater value over person z because of what groups they each identify with. If a person has an interest in conservation and outdoor spaces then they should get involved because they want to, not because they check some DEI boxes.
Setting aside what one considers to be a mental illness, it doesn't lessen their standing as a human being but it does call into question whether they should be consulted on matters of reason or intelligence. For example, I wouldn't take a certifiable crazy person's advice when it comes to financial or marital decisions.
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IDK, look at the country. We seem to be fine with all kinds of craziness and stupidity for most of the things that really matter. Hell we elect it and re-elect it. But I don't think listening to what someone like Ms. Gonia has to say is akin to your analogy.
It's more akin to asking a white dude how it feels to be in a club that's only black folks. I think there's an interesting perspective there that would be worth listening too.
And here's the thing: There are so many podcasts I don't listen too because they don't picque my interests. I've managed to develop a skillset that allows me to ignore the things I dislike, and focus on the things that appeal to me.
Bowhuntrben
Well-known member
I find value in discussions with individuals with different viewpoints than your own. You don't have to agree with them to listen to them, and it might help you understand where they are coming from.
That said, I would have a hard time taking this individual seriously. If you want to be taken seriously, dress seriously. Even a man trying to dress as a woman can do it in a more professional and serious way. I have a feeling that this individual would try to make the podcast about something other than conservation. I would think there would be much better candidates from the LGBTQ community to put on the podcast.
That said, I would have a hard time taking this individual seriously. If you want to be taken seriously, dress seriously. Even a man trying to dress as a woman can do it in a more professional and serious way. I have a feeling that this individual would try to make the podcast about something other than conservation. I would think there would be much better candidates from the LGBTQ community to put on the podcast.
SaskHunter
Well-known member
If your masculinity is shaken by the existence of the LGBT community and/or Drag performers, it was never strong in the first place...
